Apparatus for drying fruits



Oct. 14, 1930. 1. D, STUBBE APPARATUS FOR DRYING FRUITS Filed Jan. 2, 1929 Z Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1930. J. D. STUBBE APPARATUS FOR DHYING FRUITS 2 shuts-sneu 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1929 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 JOHN D. STUBBE, OF SAN JUAN, PORTO RICO ,APPARATUS FORDRYING FRUITS Application led January 2, 1929. Serial No. 329,854.

:The invention relates to the evaporation of moisture from the' surface of fruits fand vegetables and is more particularly useful in tropical countries where high humidity is the prevailing condition of the atmosphere and where frequent'and sudden rains inter- `ii'ere with the usual method of sun drying.

The invention is described with particular i reference'to the drying of pineap'ples, but y.it

is to be understood that it is equally lapplicable and useful where, in the case ot' other fruits rand vegetables, lsimilar conditions exist.

Pineapples, in comparison with other fruits and vegetables, are particularly susceptible to decay and are' particularly diliicult to dry by reason of their rough surfaces, especially inthe regions of the crown and butt.' Moisture collects inthe crevices'and interstices in these regions and consequently it is diliicult to dislodge or otherwise remove it. Sun drying, lit sufliciently protracted, is sutcient for the purpose but in many parts of the world yin which pineapples are grown, exposure to sunlight` for a ksuilicient'length of time, to bring about complete drying, is ypractically impossible by reason of the frequent and sud den rains, above mentioned.

" y The object of my invention, broadly stated, is Ato overcome the diiiiculties above men- Subordinate objects are to produce an apparatus in which the utmost efliciency may be secured from a giveny vrate of supply oi' fuel or other heatproducing means, and this involves a proper placing of the pineapples tobe dried and aneiiective distributienetv air currents.

Referring tothe drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing an apparatus for supplying the necessary heated air, and the enclosure in which the fruit is dried.

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4l is a perspective vview of one of the crates which contain the fruit, in this instance pineapples, during the dryingprocess.

A. suitable blower of a capacity suitcient to supply the necessary quantity of heated air is indicated by the numeral 1, and a suitable heating apparatus for heating the air on the intake side of the blower is indicated by the numeral 2. rThe blower may be operated'by any suitable prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine 3.

VThe enclosure may be conveniently con structed on rectilinear lines comprising the end walls l and 5 and the side walls 6 and7. The enclosure is covered by a `ceiling 8 over which, for the salre of protection against the weather, there may be built a roof 9.

The enclosure is provided with suitable doors 10, 10 and 11, 11 through which the crates of fruit may be introduced and removed, as hereinafter more particularly described. The enclosure is divided into two compartments by a partition of any suitable construction, such as that indicated by l2, in this instance a tarpaulin. The tarpa-ulin is suspended from a suitable cross beam 13 7 from which depending tracks 14h, 14 are run the trolleys from which the crates are supported in the process of introduction and re moval. Similar rails 15, 15 aie also provided, these being supported from the end walls as shown.

The compartments may be designated by tle numerals 16 and 17 respectively, the compartment 16 being provided in its upper portion with a semi-partition 18, the width ot which ,may be about onc-half the width of the compartment itself. From the blower recedes the conduit 19 leading into the inaniold 20, which may extend the entire width of the compartment 16. ln the manifold, as i fold into two streams, one in one direction and one in the other. The result of this is l l that the streams oi' an emerging ,trom the the air discharged from the tuyres will pass through the conduit 25 vinto the compartment 17. Obviously, then, either compartment may be used at any given time as a drying chamber. i

A suitable form of crate for use in drying pineapples is shown in Fig. il, and a plurality of them stacked vup are shown in F ig. 1. The crates, which may be indicated as a Y whole by the numeral 26, are provided vwith 3 suitable longitudinal slats 27, and the pineapples are placed with the crowns down projecting through the spaces between the slats. The cratesmay be stacked and at the same time provide ample space for the free circulation and distribution of air about the pinebe jprovided with two baflies, one indicated by the numeral 28 which is inclined slightly upwardly, and the other with the baille 29 compartments at any desiredelevation'above` k*horizontally about the fruit, thence e1nerg.

whichis inclined slightly downwardly. ,The trolleys'are provided withy suitable tackle indicated as a whole by the numeral 29, whereby the crates may be run in andv out of the the flooring. o

In operation, 1t may be assumed, forexample', that compartment 16 is being. lused f for a drying chamber, and that it has been charged with a number of crates of pineapples to be dried. The heated air passing through the conduit 19 is discharged through the tuyres from the manifold 20, and since the baille 23 is in a raised position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it passes downwardly alongv the partition between the compart-A ments, and thence assisted by the baffles 28 is distributed among the crates, and fpasses ing at the opposite endsand thence out through the ports 30,V l

While the drying process is going on in specification.

mind that variations and modifications of the same may be made, I define the scope of the invention by the following claims. Y

I claim: v l i l 1. Apparatus for drying the surface of fruit comprising a blower, a sourceof heat for heating the air discharged bythe blower,

two adjoining compartments separated by a .verticalp'artition of a height less than that lof the 'outside walls of said compartments, l

vor the other of said compartments at fwill. y 2. Apparatus forrdrying the surface of fruit comprising a blower, a source of heat s Y for heating the air discharged by the'blower, apples which they support. Each crate rmay avertical partition of a height less than that of the outside walls of said compartments, ay Vconduit leading from the discharge side of .said blower Vinto a manifold arranged along the wall of said compartment opposite said,-

two` adjoining compartments separated. by

Vto the upper edge of said partition' and adapted to be swung toypositions respective- -ly above andbelow said orifices to directl the air discharged therefrom into one or the other of said compartments at will, and a plurality of crates provided with baiiies for directing the air currents on the yfruit to be dried. j v

In testimony whereof, I have signed this D. sTUBBE.

compartment 16, compartment 17 is being n i' 'V charged with crates of fruit for drying. yis soon as the fruit 1n compartment 1G is sufliciently dried, 'the baille 23is lowered thusl closing od the currentof air'from compartment 16 and directing it through the conduit 25 into the compartment 17, where a similar Having thus described the illustrated emo bodiments of my invention and having in Vprocedure takes place. During the drying y llo 

